SLIDESHOW: Cambridge House boys set off on Schools’ Cup trail

Cambridge House First XV take their first steps on the Danske Bank Schools’ Cup trail at home to Grosvenor Grammar this weekend.
David Small from Smallcost Carpets, one of the sponsors of Cambridge House Rugby Team is pictured with players Sam Nicholl, Aaron Henry and Benjamin McIlroy and coaches Jamie Smyth, John Nicholl and Chris Smyth. INBT48-207ACDavid Small from Smallcost Carpets, one of the sponsors of Cambridge House Rugby Team is pictured with players Sam Nicholl, Aaron Henry and Benjamin McIlroy and coaches Jamie Smyth, John Nicholl and Chris Smyth. INBT48-207AC
David Small from Smallcost Carpets, one of the sponsors of Cambridge House Rugby Team is pictured with players Sam Nicholl, Aaron Henry and Benjamin McIlroy and coaches Jamie Smyth, John Nicholl and Chris Smyth. INBT48-207AC

For head coach John Nicholl, who has joined the school’s PE staff this year, it will be his first game in charge of Cambridge House, after being part of the coaching team which helped Coleraine Inst reach the Schools’ Cup semi-final last year.

“It’s an exciting time and everyone is looking forward to the match,” said Nicholl, who is assisted by Chris Smyth and Jamie Smith.

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“It will be a big test for us against a Grsovenor team which has been going pretty well this season and who beat us earlier in the year.

“We have won around half of the matches we played and we beat Ballymena’s under-18s at the weekend in a warm-up game. We are still sometimes a bit naive but we have a very young panel.

“We have nine fifth years and only four Upper Sixth pupils so that bodes well in terms of building for the next couple of years.”

Cambridge House’s star man is arguably number eight Aaron Henry, while second row Houston Bonnar has made it to the regional selection process for Ulster Schools.

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The Ballymena school’s most prolific points scorer this year has been full-back Josh Henry, while skipper Sam Nicholl, out-half James Bovill and prop Lewis Wray have also been key performers.

Saturday’s match has a 10.30am kick-off.

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